Expansion joint



ay 27, 194?. J. 1:. PRos 7 EXPANSION JOIN Filed April 28, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor A iiorneys J. J. PROSA EXPANS ION JO INT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 28, less Patented May 27, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXPANSION JOINT Joseph J. Prosa, Hibbing, Minn., assignor of onehalf to Henry F. Bourbon, Hibbing, Minn.

Application April 28, 1938, Serial No. 204,860

1 Claim.

This invention relates to expansion joints and an object of the invention is to provide a joint of this character that may be used instead of tar between sections of concrete in highways and which can also be used in concrete structures such as stadiums and building where expansion joints are necessary because of seasonal contraction and expansion.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of the expansion joint to a concrete highway,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a top plan view for clearly showing an apron forming part of the joint and used for directing the water away from the concrete,

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the apron at the joint,

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating the application of the invention to a stepped concrete structure,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 56 of Figure 5, and

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 'l--! of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that briefly the expansion joint comprises an oblong stri of metal or other suitable material that at opposite sides of its longitudinal median is bent transversely to provide an integral pair of elongated transversely curved wings the inner walls of which merge into a longitudinal center rib that is also transversely curved but has its convex side disposed upwardly, the concave faces of the Wings or sections being disposed upwardly as shown.

As shown in Figure 1 the joint strip indicated generally by the reference numeral 5 is of a length corresponding to the width of the concrete slabs 6 and is disposed at the joint between the meeting ends of the slabs. When arranged at the joint between the slabs B the joint strip 5 has the longitudinal transversely curved wing portions 1 thereof embedded in the confronting edges of the slabs 6 as shown with the central rib 8 disposed in the space between the slabs and located substantially flush with the top surfaces of the slabs as will be clear from a study of Figure 2.

The wings I are anchored within the concrete bodies of the slabs 6 through the medium of anchoring pins 9 of steel or other suitable I material that are laid horizontally in the concrete and extend through suitable openings provided therefor in the outer free longitudinal edges of the wings I.

Also, and as clearly shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, there is provided for each joint strip 1 a water run-off apron indicated generally by the reference numeral ID. The apron I0 is substantially of the same cross-sectional shape as the strip 5 and embodies a main body portion that is embedded in the ground II and disposed at an incline to slant away from the side edges of the slabs 6 so that the wings la thereof provide a pair of troughs for carrying off the water laterally with respect to the slabs B and the joint therebetween. At the upper edge thereof the apron I0 has all portions thereof bent upwardly to provide a flange portion l I that bridges the space between the confronting edges of the slabs 6 and is embedded in the slabs 6 as clearly shown in Figure 4.

The flange portion I2 of the apron in also is anchored within the concrete masses through the medium of anchoring pins l3 in substantially the same manner as the strip 5 is anchored in the masses of concrete.

It will also be noted that the apron I0 is so arranged that the portions thereof corresponding to the portions of the strip 5 are aligned therewith. In that connection it will also be understood that the upper edge of the flange E2 of the apron I0 is of such a contour as to conformably fit against the wing and rib portions of the strip 5 as also will be clear from a study of Figure 4.

In Figures 5 to 7 is illustrated an application of the invention in the construction of a stepped concrete structure, such as a concrete stand forming part of a stadium or the like. Thus as shown in Figures 5 to 7 inclusive joint strips 5a corresponding to the joint strips 5 are embedded in the tread or top surfaces of the slabs 611 while embedded in the breast portions M of the slabs 6a. are perpendicular or vertical joint strips l5 that are of substantially the same cross-sectional shape as the strips 5a and are arranged in alignment therewith.

The strips 5a and I5 are anchored in the concrete through the medium of anchoring pins l6 and I! respectively as shown.

It will also be noted that the vertical joint strips |5a have their upper edges shaped to conformably engage the under-surfaces of the corresponding portions of the strips while the lower edges of the vertical strips [5 are convex so as to conformably engage the transversely curved portions of the lower joint strips 5a.

It will also be noted that, with of course the exception of the uppermost joint strip 5a, each of the other joint strips is of a length greater than the width of a tread of the structure so as to extend into the uppermost concrete slabs 6a. inwardly of the breast surface M of the slabs 60.. Thus provision is made for preventing water seeping back into the concrete as it is being shed by the joint strip.

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction utility and advantages of an invention of this character will be had without a more detailed description. 7

Having thus described the invention What is claimed as new is: r

In a concrete structure including a pair of concrete slabs having horizontally arranged upper faces, vertically arranged ends and vertically arranged side edges, said side edges being normally spaced apart, a sheet metalmember having a narrow center rib which is slightly bowed upwardly and downwardly bowed wings forming troughs at the sides of the rib, the inner side edge of each wing merging with a side edge of the rib and the outer side edge of each wing being located slightly below the plane of the rib, said wings being embedded in the slabs with the rib extending across the top of the space between the slabs, said rib being substantially flush with the horizontal faces of the slabs and forming the sole closure for the space between the slabs and the wings forming horizontal troughs slightly under the upper portions of the slabs, and a similarly shaped sheet metal member vertically arranged and embedded in said vertical ends of the slabs with the rib of the last-mentioned sheet metal member extending across the outer part of the space between the slabs, the upper end of the second sheet metal member being shaped to fit against the under faces of the wings and rib of the firstmentioned member.

JOSEPH J. PROSA. 

